93 Points Wine & Spirits
Alvaro Castro replanted his vines at Saes around the turn of the century, an east-facing vineyard in the foothills of the Serra da Estrella, where he and his daughter Maria grow touriga nacional, alfrocheiro, jaen and tinta pinheira for this blend. Fermented without added yeasts and aged in older oak barrels, this is among the most straightforward wines they make, and it showed beautifully in 2018: An elegant red with lovely richness, its melodramatic funk in control, its fruit in blossom—"red plum, violets and rose petals," as panelist Bruno Almeida described it.
 
Winemaker Notes
This is an authentic, unmitigated Dao red – an archetypal expression of the elegance and minerality of this terroir. Explosive aromatics and freshness of fruit are the hallmarks of this entry level red.
The fresh red fruit and delicate aromatics of the Quinta de Saes Tinto pair very well with roast poultry and game. Mushrooms and other umami-laden dishes are also fine pairs.
 
Blend: 25% Tinta Roriz, 25% Touriga Naçional, 25% Alfrocheiro, 25% Jaen